Cameron Conrad, ill man who got wish to come home to Nova Scotia, dies
A man originally from Nova Scotia who got his wish to come home from Alberta to die lost his struggle with lung cancer Thursday.
Cameron Conrad, 57, died Thursday at Twin Oaks Hospital in Musquodoboit Harbour where he had been a patient since arriving back in the province two weeks ago on a medevac flight from Calgary.
His family set up Gofundme site to raise the $47,000 needed to pay for the flight after his condition deteriorated and he was no longer to able use a commercial airline.
"He just kept on saying, 'It is so good to be home in Nova Scotia.' There was tremendous comfort and peace," said Conrad's sister, Juanita Martin, on Friday
"It was just so good to have him back home. He was aware right up until Wednesday at 2 o'clock, he was aware that we were all there."
Outpouring of support
Conrad was diagnosed with lung cancer in November 2015. At the time he was working as a tractor-trailer driver in Grande Prairie, Alta., and was told the cancer had spread from his lungs to his bones.
He grew up in the Lawrencetown area with five siblings and spent his last days laughing and talking with his family.
His appetite even improved after he got back, Martin said.
"He was barely eating at all when I saw him in Calgary, just a little bit of ice cream. When I walked into Twin Oaks, he was eating a bowl of pea soup."
Using a crowdfunding source brought more than financial benefits to the family, she added.
"The outpouring, just the outpouring of support, it was just overwhelming. I updated the page just to let them know he passed. I am getting a bunch of emails saying, 'I didn't know him but I'm glad I could help,'" Martin said.
